Online Reporter
ADDIS ABABA. — China and the African Union Commission have renewed their partnership to advance modern agricultural technology and resilient agri-food systems in Africa.
While addressing the “Meet China in Africa” event held at an urban agriculture demonstration centre in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Jiang Feng, head of the Chinese Mission to the AU, said agricultural cooperation constitutes an important cornerstone of win-win cooperation between China and Africa.
“China’s agricultural technical assistance and transfer of advanced agricultural technologies have enriched the grain bags and vegetable baskets of the African people, and contributed to the steady advancement of agricultural modernisation in Africa,” Jiang said.
He highlighted that China has established over 20 agricultural technology demonstration centres and promoted more than 300 advanced agricultural technologies in Africa, benefiting over 1 million smallholder farmers.
Noting that China has also deployed over 500 agricultural experts in Africa and offered training for nearly 9 000 agricultural talents, Jiang said China will continue to support Africa’s modernisation drive to improve the well-being of its people through ensuring food security.
Patience Mhuriro-Mashapa, an agriculture and food security expert at the AU Commission, commended China’s unwavering partnership with Africa, particularly through numerous capacity-building training programs.
“Modernised agriculture can redeem Africa from perpetual food security. The best practice China is promoting aligns well with the AU agenda 2063 aspirations and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme’s vision of building a sustainable agri-food system,” she said.
She added that China’s support for Africa’s modern agricultural development has significantly strengthened skills, enhanced institutional capacity, and fostered knowledge exchanges in the sector.
The Chinese agricultural experts at the demonstration centre have introduced new agricultural technologies, provided inputs, and upgraded agricultural infrastructures for local communities, according to Melese Anshebo, deputy commissioner of Addis Ababa City Administration Farmers and Urban Agriculture Development.
Meanwhile, Uganda has welcomed a new chapter in its agricultural modernisation drive with the importation of nine Jianzhou big-eared goats, part of a broader South-South cooperation programme aimed at enhancing livestock productivity and farmer incomes.
The goats — a crossbreed of British Nubian and local goats from Jianyang, Sichuan province in China — were procured through a partnership among China, the Ugandan government under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Known for their rapid growth, large body size and adaptability, the breed is expected to support Uganda’s push to commercialise agriculture by increasing meat yields, introducing new breeding technologies, and expanding market opportunities.
“This is not a donor-recipient arrangement — it is mutual benefit,” said Julius Twinamasiko, programme coordinator for the Uganda-China agricultural cooperation. “We want to add superior livestock breeds that will help farmers earn more through meat, milk and trade. China gains investment and market ties, while Uganda gains technology, genetics and capacity building.”
The introduction of these goats is expected to play a key role in tackling food insecurity and increasing meat production, especially in arid and semiarid parts of Uganda, where traditional cattle and goat herding has become increasingly difficult due to prolonged dry spells.
Twinamasiko said the project reflects growing agricultural ties between China and Uganda, underpinned by the principles of South-South cooperation. Chinese experts, he said, have provided technical guidance on breeding, disease control and pasture management of the new breed to Ugandan experts. “This is more than just a livestock project — it’s a knowledge exchange.” — Xinhua/ChinaDaily
